How far can a designer push his creativity? I guess it’s just about inspirations and the tools you have with you. Ask David Lanham, designer over at the Iconfactory (developers of apps such as Twitterrific), who’s started drawing portraits / caricatures over FaceTime. We interviewed David last year during the Apps Tree, in case you missed it.
David Lanham’s FaceTime Portraits
Apple Not Paying Foxconn Employees Additional Extension as Rumored
Apple news seems to come in waves. Before we had all the negative iPhone 4 press, there was a period of time when Foxconn was constantly making headlines among Apple sources, and near the end of the bad press, there was a rumor that Apple would be paying Foxconn an additional 2% so that employees could receive wage increases. This never happened.
Foxconn officially denies any involvement with Apple concerning the wages of their employees, stating that they never received any subsidies from Apple. “This isn’t true.” 9 to 5 Mac reports,
The intention of these payments was to end a wave of suicides among Foxconn workers, reportedly unhappy at long hours, long wages, anti-social working conditions and authoritarian management practises.
Foxconn has moved to offer workers large pay hikes, while breaking some of its production units into plants it owns elsewhere in China.
[via AppleInsider and 9 to 5 Mac]
Canal+ iPhone App Commercial [Video]
Canal+ is a French TV channel which has recently released its official iPhone app in the App Store. Unlike many other TV channels, they decided to promote the app in a pretty unusual way, by airing an awesome commercial.
Check it out after the break. [via MelaMorsicata]
Firefox Home Approved, Mozilla Fans Rejoice
Looking to access your Firefox profile in the cloud? Firefox Home, approved by Apple yesterday, can now be found on the App Store. While I don’t touch Firefox too often, I still appreciate some of its features and am looking forward to the latest update. For those still using the mighty fox, Firefox Home for the iPhone can collect your open tabs, bookmarks, and other related data so that you have a portable carry-on for that workflow.
You can download Firefox Home at this link.
[via TechCrunch and CNET]
Wired Knew About the iPad…11 Years Ago
Ok, so the iPad was actually in the works before the iPhone. Then Steve decided to move the OS they created to the iPhone, and put the iPad on the Cupertino labs shelves. Now, Steve, please define “before”: because it seems like Wired magazine knew about the iPad in 1999.
Flickr App Updated with Multitasking Support - Still No Retina Graphics
The official Flickr iPhone application was updated last night to include support for iOS 4 multitasking (fast app switching) and uploads in the background. It’s available for free here.
The 1.2 update also includes support for HD video uploads, Twitter integration with flic.kr short URLs and better full-screen browsing features. Sadly, there’s still no support for Retina Display.
What are you waiting for, Flickr?
Next Mac Pros and iMacs to Feature USB 3.0, Faster FireWire?
Here’s the daily rumor series: today we’re talking about Mac Pros and iMac, folks. And it’s a pretty good rumor, if you ask me.
HardMac is reporting that the future Mac Pros and iMacs will feature new technologies such as USB 3.0 and faster FireWire, 1600 or 3200. As for release date:
“One of our better sources have indicated that the renewal of the much awaited Mac Pro range is planned for the end of the summer, thus for the ‘back-to-school’ period. For the iMacs they will be a few weeks or a month later at the beginning of autumn.”
If this will turn out to be true, sign me up for that new iMac. Faster FireWire? Please.
iPhone 4 To Be Released in 18 More Countries on July 30? Telenor Denmark Confirms
Here’s an interesting story: when Apple officially announced the iPhone 4, they said they would release it in 8 countries first. Then, starting from July, it would be available in 18 more countries. These countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Squeeze’s iPad Keyboard Solo [Video]
Last night UK band Squeeze appeared on Late Nigh with Jimmy Fallon and took an iPad with them. They played “Pulling Mussels From the Shell” and one of the band members used an iPad all along. Take a look at the solo during the second minute - the app is MooCowMusic’s Pianist Pro.
Check out the video after the break. [via 9to5mac]